{{Short description|Indian politician}} {{more footnotes needed|date=February 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant General]] | name = Nirbhay Sharma | honorific_suffix = [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal|UYSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] | image = File:The Governor of Mizoram, Lt. Gen (Ret.) Nirbhay Sharma in New Delhi on September 07, 2017 (cropped).jpg | order1 = 13th | office1 = Governor of Mizoram | term_start1 = 26 May 2015 | term_end1 = 25 May 2018 | 1blankname1 = Chief Minister | 1namedata1 = [[Lal Thanhawla]] | predecessor1 = [[Keshari Nath Tripathi]] | successor1 = [[Kummanam Rajasekharan]] | order2 = 14th | office2 = Governor of Arunachal Pradesh | term_start2 = 29 May 2013 | term_end2 = 12 May 2015 | 1blankname2 = Chief Minister | 1namedata2 = [[Nabam Tuki]] | predecessor2 = [[Joginder Jaswant Singh]] | successor2 = [[Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa]] | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|10|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Lucknow]], [[United Provinces (1937-1950)|United Provinces]], [[British India]] | party = | spouse = Jyotsna Sharma | children = Nupur Sharma, Abhay Sharma | alma_mater = [[National Defence Academy]] | website = | blank1 = Awards | data1 = }}
[[Lieutenant General|Lt Gen]] (Retd.) '''Nirbhay Sharma''' [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal|UYSM]], [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal|AVSM]], [[Vishisht Seva Medal|VSM]] is the former [[Governor of Mizoram]] and former [[Governor of Arunachal Pradesh]].
Born in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) in 1946, he is an alumnus of the [[National Defence Academy]] and was commissioned in the 2nd Battalion of the [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Parachute Regiment]] in 1966. General Sharma is one of the most distinguished and decorated Field Commanders of the Indian Army.
==Early life and career== Most of his assignments have dealt with Kashmir followed by North Eastern States; the last assignment being a Corps Commander and Security Advisor to the Government of J&K. During the period, his landmark contribution in fighting the ongoing [[proxy war]] in Kashmir, including the successful conduct of Parliamentary and Assembly Elections are well known. Apart from brilliantly directing anti-terrorist operations of over one lakh elements of the security force, his accomplishments include the construction of an anti-infiltration obstacle system along the Line of Control, opening the Uri-Muzaffarabad Road and the construction of the ‘Aman Setu’. He had earlier raised a Division during the ‘Kargil War’ (in record time). The concurrent conduct of disaster relief operations during the ‘Snow Tsunami’ and Earthquake also drew praise and recognition. His slogan of "Jawan aur Awaam, Aman hai Maqaam" and its manifestation on ground brought in a new approach and momentum to the ongoing peace process in Kashmir.
As a young captain, he fought in the 1971 War and was part of the Airborne Assault Group, the first Indian Army Unit to enter Dacca. Apart from commanding a battalion on the China border, he was part of the Sino-Indian Working Group and coordinated counter-insurgency operations in the North East with civil agencies and inter-ministerial delegations. The peace process with Naga rebels commenced during this period. Close interaction with the representatives of the armies and governments of Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh for effective border management and formulation of joint strategies to combat militancy, anti-national / criminal / hijacking activities and disaster management were also part of his charter.
Peace Building initiatives based on a just resolution of issues have been an integral part of his mandate as a Military Man and Strategic Expert. As Director General (Perspective Planning) in the Army HQ, Gen. Sharma worked on the Restructuring of the Army HQ and assisted in drafting ‘Army Vision 2020’. As Master General of Ordnance, his stamp of dynamism is distinctly seen in the field of material management of the 1.2 million-strong Indian Army with varied and complex inventory worth over {{INR}}50,000 crores and an Annual Revenue Budget of {{INR}}6,000 crores. After 40 years of distinguished service in the Army, General Sharma was appointed Member of the Union Public Service Commission of India. As a Constitutional Authority, he presided over Interview Boards and Departmental Promotion Committees to select officers for the Civil Services. He also examined the framing and amendment of Recruitment and Service Rules and commented on disciplinary cases. He offered specific advice on examination reforms and other matters related to the development of the Indian Civil Service. With an M.Sc. and an M.Phil. in Defence Studies (by correspondence) from Madras University, he is a widely recognised strategic thinker and defence analyst. General Sharma has been a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi (an independent Strategic and Public Policy think tank and research initiative), and several other similar institutions like the USI (United Service Institution of India), IDSA (Institute of Defence Studies & Analysis) and CPR (Centre for Policy & Research) etc. His articles and perspective have been published in many journals and newspapers and he has also participated in numerable seminars and discussions with leading global think tanks within the country and abroad.
On 4 May 2016, at a Special Convocation held in Mumbai, General Sharma was awarded Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) Degree (Honoris Causa) by Tibrewala University, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the service of our motherland, exemplary patriotism, inspirational leadership and peacemaking initiatives."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rajbhavan.mizoram.gov.in/page/governor-profile|title=Mizoram Governor Online|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922100155/https://rajbhavan.mizoram.gov.in/page/governor-profile|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The General was appointed Governor of the State of Arunachal Pradesh in May 2013 by His Excellency the President of India and was sworn in on 29 May 2013 as the eighteenth Governor. Arunachal Pradesh is strategically located in the North East of India, and has common borders with Bhutan, China and Myanmar.
After serving the state of Arunachal Pradesh for two years, he took the Oath of Office of the Governor of Mizoram, another North Eastern State sharing an international border of 722 km with Myanmar and Bangladesh, on 26 May 2015.
He is married to Jyotsna Sharma (an educationist) and they have a daughter, Nupur Sharma (a writer) and a son, Abhay Sharma (an international taxation and fund formation lawyer).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-16/india/39309316_1_arunachal-governor-indian-army-arunachal-pradesh |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130730003610/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-16/india/39309316_1_arunachal-governor-indian-army-arunachal-pradesh |url-status= dead |archive-date= 30 July 2013 |title=Nirbhay Sharma appointed Arunachal governor|year=2013 |quote=Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhay Sharma was today appointed as governor of Arunachal Pradesh |work= [[The Times of India]] |accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=38573 |title=Press Information Bureau English Releases |work=pib.nic.in |year=2008 |quote=as Member Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). |accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://upscportal.com/civilservices/forum/profile-upsc-member-lt-gen-retd-nirbhay-sharma |title=(Profile) UPSC Member: Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Nirbhay Sharma | UPSCPORTAL - India's Largest Community for IAS, CSAT, Civil Services Aspirants. |work=upscportal.com |year=2011 |quote=Member, Union Public Service Commission since May 7, 2008. |accessdate=10 June 2013}}</ref>
==Military awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |[[File:Param Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:Uttam Yudh Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]] | |- |[[File:Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:Vishisht Seva Medal ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Poorvi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Paschimi Star Ribbon.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND Special Service Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Operation Vijay star.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Operation Vijay medal.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND Operation Parakram medal.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND High Altitude Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 50th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]] |- |[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 30 Years Long Service Ribbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]] |[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]] |- |}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- | |[[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] |[[Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]] | |- |[[Ati Vishist Seva Medal]] |[[Vishisht Seva Medal]] |[[Poorvi Star]] |[[Paschimi Star]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Special Service Medal]] |[[Operation Vijay Star|Operation Vijay Star Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sangram Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Vijay Medal]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Operation Parakram Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|High Altitude Service Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|50th Anniversary of Independence Medal]] |- |[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|25th Anniversary of Independence Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|30 Years Long Service Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|20 Years Long Service Medal]] |[[Indian military decorations#Long service awards|9 Years Long Service Medal]] |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Joginder Jaswant Singh]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors of Arunachal Pradesh|Governor of Arunachal Pradesh]]|years=29 May 2013 – 12 May 2015}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Keshari Nath Tripathi]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of governors of Mizoram|Governor of Mizoram]]|years=26 May 2015 – 25 May 2018}} {{s-aft|after=[[Kummanam Rajasekharan]] }} {{s-end}}
{{Governor of Mizoram |state=expanded}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Nirbhay}} [[Category:1948 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Governors of Arunachal Pradesh]] [[Category:Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[Category:Recipients of the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal]] [[Category:Recipients of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[Category:Politicians from Lucknow]] [[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]